Hooded Muzzle Brake Flash Suppressor

ABSTRACT

A hooded muzzle brake for dissipating a recoil force created by the discharge of a firearm having a muzzle, while substantially decreasing the noise heard by the shooter, resulting in a reduced muzzle flash signature and the attendant dust cloud generated by typical muzzle brake devices for use in the field or military applications. The muzzle brake is an enclosed device with at least one opening radially disposed from a central bore. The radial opening(s) help to dissipate recoil force-causing gasses away from the muzzle end of a firearm with limited reflection of gasses back towards the shooter since the gases are contained by the hood of the muzzle brake in the expansion chamber(s). The Hooded muzzle brake may have more than a single expansion chamber to allow the hot gasses to expand internally, compressing the oxygenated air within, allowing any unburned gunpowder to burn more completely during a short expansion and cooling before being diverted 90 degrees and released less explosively out the front of the muzzle brake through forward facing gas port(s) and the muzzle and away from the shooter. This metered delay of the expanding combustion gasses decrease the perceived recoil, the muzzle flash signature, dust cloud signature blown into the air associated with traditional muzzle brakes, the amount of gas reflected back toward the shooter, and the amount of noise the shooter hears.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a muzzle brake for firearms and more particularly to a muzzle brake for magnum firearms that decreases the amount of recoil, noise and muzzle flash perceived by the shooter. The Hooded Muzzle Brake Flash Suppressor decreases the muzzle flash of other observers, and the deafening side ward blast of hot gasses and noise felt and heard by those in close proximity.

2. Background Information

When a magnum or other high powered rifle is fired, the expanding combustion gasses that eject the projectile out of the end of the firearm accumulates behind the projectile and upon discharge from the firearm creates a recoil force back towards the shooter. This recoil force can be quite severe, especially in magnum powered rifles, and can result in pain, discomfort, and fatigue to the shooter. To reduce these side effects, “muzzle brakes” are used to lessen this recoil force back towards the shooter.

Most muzzle brakes comprise an attachment placed on the muzzle end of a firearm which reduces recoil by dissipating propellant gasses radially from the direction of the barrel of the firearm through a series of openings within the attachment. In deflecting the gas away from the end of the barrel, some of the gas impinges on the opening surfaces on the muzzle brake itself and is reflected back towards the shooter. This reflection directs more sound energy from the muzzle blast back toward the shooter. The same deflecting gas is directed approximately 90 degrees radially around the muzzle brake and having major impact on nearby observers with kicked up debris, an increase in firearm report levels exceeding the decibels that have been determined as damaging to the hearing of the shooter and all nearby observers. Thus, firearms equipped with conventional muzzle brakes often sound much louder to the shooter and others than the same firearm with no muzzle brake. Some jurisdictions have banned the use of muzzle brakes under certain circumstances, such as while hunting with a guide. Hence, one must choose either increased recoil force or increased noise in order to operate the firearm. What is needed is a muzzle brake that functions to reduce the recoil force felt by the shooter without a substantial increase in noise perceived by the shooter and others.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to reduce the recoil force felt upon discharge of a firearm in a manner that is significantly quieter than existing muzzle brakes by allowing the brief detainment of expanding gasses and a slower redirected release away from the shooter and any person to the side of the muzzle approaching 90 degrees. Current muzzle brake designs while already loud and potentially damaging to the hearing of the shooter, are more detrimental to the hearing of those next to, or perpendicular of the muzzle brake.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a hooded muzzle brake device for reducing recoil and limiting noise upon the discharge of a firearm through this muzzle attachment. The present invention will have mounting system for direct threading to the end of the barrel or quick connect threads for use with standard AR type flash suppressors, with the assembly extending forward from the point of attachment, rearward from the point of attachment for already ported firearms, or in both directions forward and rearward in a central type mounting. One iteration of the hooded muzzle brake is a centrally threaded section specifically adapted for attachment to the muzzle of a firearm, an outer surface extending forward and backward from the attachment point along a longitudinal axis, a central bore extending through the cylinder along the longitudinal axis, a plurality of radial gas holes extending from the central bore to the outer surface and generally linearly disposed along the longitudinal axis within the outer surface, exiting the central bore and being trapped by a hooded expansion chamber. The expansion chamber is shallower in the direction of the shooter, larger towards the muzzle and covered with a durable hood that contains the hot gasses and redirects them towards the muzzle as the bullet traverses and exits the assembly. This design delays the initial sharp recoil and creates a more gentle push rather than the jolt associated with high powered rifles without muzzle brakes or recoil porting.

In use, when a projectile proceeds out through the invented muzzle brake the resulting gasses have pre-expanded and cooled in the hooded expansion chamber(s), slowed and been redirected 90 degrees away from the shooter. This reduction in expanding gasses and delay in release correlates with a significant decrease in noise perceived by the shooter using this hooded muzzle brake when compared to other muzzle brakes.

Additionally, the hooded design of the expansion chamber(s) with the open porting allows the delayed hot gasses to more completely combust any unburned gunpowder, with a resulting less visible muzzle flash. After the gas load has been fully released, cooler oxygenated air returns into the expansion chamber, back flowing and cooling the recoil chamber as well as the expansion chamber(s). This fresh air allows additional shots to be fired with more complete combustion and correspondingly reduced flash signatures as well.

Other additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the back half of the Hooded Muzzle Brake assembly, with the interior bulkheads removed to clearly show the interior design of the rear portion of the Combustion/Expansion Chamber and the opening clearance for the rifle barrel.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the front half of the Hooded Muzzle Brake assembly showing the front portion of the Combustion/Expansion Chamber.

FIG. 3 is a view from the muzzle end of the internal assembly of the Hooded Muzzle Brake without the hood. This see through interpretation depicts the hidden design features of the assembly including the elevational differences, the exhaust/intake ports, 4 longitudinal bulkheads, and recoil chamber.

FIG. 4 is an end view from the rear of the assembly looking down though and towards the muzzle, showing both surfaces and openings.

FIG. 5 is another front end view, from the muzzle, without the hidden features of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 represents a cut down side view of an assembled Hooded Muzzle Brake Flash Suppressor.

FIG. 7 is a shortened representation of the internal assembly including representative bulkheads.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS, OF THE NUMBERED PARTS

#1 is the internal frame end of the muzzle brake and flash catching blast deflector. The internal frame can be manufactured with any high temperature corrosion and pressure resistant material. The internal frame can be built from single or multiple parts and materials, using any combination of manufacturing techniques.

#2, in FIG. 1, is the outline of the clearance for a 24 inch number 2 barrel. In FIG. 4, it is the opening the barrel inserts into for attachment. The rear portion of the assembly will fit most standard length stocks without modifying them. Clearance around the barrel should create no change in the point of impact by allowing normal barrel harmonics during firing. The design allows for construction modifications for use with barrels of types smaller/larger in caliber or diameter, including straight, non-tapered or bull barrels.

#3 is stepped down internally threaded section of the present invention, for attachment to a quick thread device or a direct threaded barrel.

#4 is a view of the turned down assembly and beefed up gas barrier and hood/tube stop.

#5 is the area of the rear expansion chamber. There are 4 separate blast expansion chambers represented in the drawings to relieve gas pressure, reduce recoil and muzzle flash. The number of expansion chambers may be increased or decreased as required for optimal performance.

#6 is a view of the larger front section of the combustion/expansion chamber where hot gasses are vented from behind the bullet as it travels from the barrel, through the hooded muzzle brake and flash catching blast deflector assembly, before leaving the firearm. Combustion/expansion chambers are defined by the shallow milled area #5 to the rear of the connection point #3, the deeper “V” shaped valley #6 to the front of the attachment point #3 between each pair of internal bulkheads #9, the assembly front end plate #8, the recoil chamber wall #7, and the hood #12. This is the functional design that collects the hot gasses, allows them to burn more completely, expand out from the center and change direction resulting in the increased efficacy as listed in the claims.

#7 is a perspective view of the ported recoil chamber of the invention. The ports have a wide range of potential numbers and sizes.

#7 a is an elevational cross-sectional view showing 16 of the 21 hot gas ports represented in this drawing. To show the approximate placement, 20 to 21 individual ports of the same size are depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7.

#8 depicts the assembly front end plate from different perspectives in FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7.

#9 points to the internal bulkheads which divide the combustion/expansion chambers of the assembly and improve the longitudinal stability and strength of the design.

#10 points to the cross sectional opening end view of the recoil chamber wall, #7. The wall allows the bullet to traverse through the assembly while hot gasses are bled through the recoil (hot gas) ports from behind the bullet, moving in a controlled sequential manner into the combustion/expansion chamber(s). Most unburned powder will be consumed in the combustion/expansion chambers, greatly ameliorating associated muzzle flash.

#11 highlights the eight exhaust/intake ports. As and after the bullet leaves the assembly any expanding gasses exhaust through these ports. As the pressure within subsides and returns to normal, cooler air will backflow into the combustion/expansion chamber(s), and down into the recoil chamber. These ports may be manufactured in different numbers, placement, or size.

#12 represents cross sectional view in FIG. 2, and a shortened whole view as shown in FIG. 6, of the seamless titanium (other heat resistant materials may be used) tube, also referred to as the hood or sleeve. This critical component of the invention traps the expanding gas in the combustion/expansion chambers as it is released through the hot gas ports and redirects the gasses away from the shooter and nearby observers, delaying the release through exhaust/intake ports while the bullet is exiting the firearm and hooded muzzle brake assembly.

#13 depicts an optional exhaust/intake tube, similar to an exhaust pipe, to tune the recoil, report and muzzle flash by modifying the delayed release of hot gasses for better performance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, different construction materials other than listed herein, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The present invention is a hooded muzzle brake flash suppressor for reducing recoil, noise, as well as the large muzzle flash, associated with many prior muzzle brake designs, during the discharge of a magnum level or other high power firearm. Referring initially to #1, a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The invented hooded muzzle brake is made up of a flame, heat and pressure resistant cylindrical body. The assembly may be made using CNC lathe to shape the required barrel diameter clearances #2, the internally threaded section for the assembly to screw onto the chosen rifle #3, the gas barrier/hood stop #4 and the larger than chosen caliber recoil chamber #7. The assembly may also be made from individual parts that are joined by welding, screwing, slip fitting or a combination using any or all of the above including CNC work. Crush washers should not be required for this assembly for use on magnum bolt action rifles. Semi-automatic (like the Kalashnikov or Stoner variant) rifles may require crush washers or adjustments to the gas operation port of the firearm to function reliably.

In this embodiment, CNC mill work is done to contour and remove the material to make the four expansion chambers #5, #6, bulkheads #9, recoil chamber walls #10, and the assembly front end plate #8. A mill is also used to cut the hot gas ports #7 a between the recoil chamber #7 and the combustion/expansion chamber #6. The same methodology is used for the exhaust/intake ports #11 in the end plate #8.

While this rendering the assembly and the port holes are shown to be cylindrical in shape, it is to be distinctly understood that any shape may be used for the body, holes, channels or opening as long as the longitudinal dimension of the opening is equal or greater than the lateral dimension of that opening and does not degrade the bulkhead integrity. The shape of the body shown is cylindrical to allow for ease in manufacturing and to conform to customary use of cylindrical shaped muzzle brakes and flash suppressors in the art. However, the shape of the body is not limited to a cylinder alone. The size and dimensions of the design, and the number of combustion/expansion chambers, hot gas ports and exhaust intake ports are not limited to what is depicted in the drawing.

In use, when the firearm is discharged, the gasses propelling the projectile exit the barrel then traversing the recoil chamber #7, escaping through the gas ports #7 a and are dispersed in a sequential manner behind the bullet and into the combustion/expansion chamber #6. The ports let the hot gasses expand in a delayed manner inside of the expansion chambers #5, #6 between the hood #12, the recoil chamber wall #7, the bulkheads #9, and the end cap #8, before flowing out the front of the assembly through the exhaust/intake ports #11. As a result, when the propellant gasses are dispersed, the gasses are dissipated through the front openings and less of the gasses are reflected back toward the shooter. The reduction in the reflection of gasses correlates to a reduction in noise perceived by the shooter upon discharge of the firearm while also mitigating the noise for other shooters nearby. 

I claim:
 1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. A muzzle brake for use with a firearm with associated firearm muzzle configured for redirecting gasses away from the shooter of the firearm comprising: an outer hood or sleeve selectively placed over a separate inner assembly; the separate inner assembly including an internal cylindrical tube coaxially arranged with the hood or sleeve; the internal cylindrical tube including a stepped down internal section to receive a barrel of the firearm; the separate inner assembly further including a second internal cylindrical tube extending from the stepped down internal section to the font end plate; the front end plate being located at the distal end of the hood or sleeve; expansion chambers located between the second internal cylindrical tube and the outer hood or sleeve; and expansion ports in the second internal cylindrical tube to provide gas passage between an inside of the second internal cylindrical tube and an inside of the outer hood or sleeve.
 7. A muzzle brake as recited in claim 6; Further comprising an exhaust pipe located within the inside of the outer hood or sleeve and directly attached to the front end plate.
 8. A muzzle brake as recited in claim 7: further comprising tapered distal walls of the internal cylindrical tube located adjacent the stepped down section; said tapered walls provide a border of the expansion chambers. 